Old Man, Enjoying the Show All This Way, Weren't You?!

For these gifted students who had undergone countless rounds of training and assessment at the academy, this should have been an easy journey.

But what they did not know was that, in the darkness, pairs of eyes were watching them.

Those eyes bore purple-black shadow and glimmered faintly in the dark. Their figures blended into the shadows, their auras completely concealed, as though they had no breath, no heartbeat, no life at all.

The Black Hand Clan.

They were hunters of the darkness, assassins of the shadows, the race best at concealment and surprise killings on the Dragon Fighting Plane. They had emerged from ancient wars and endured countless life-or-death battles. Every inch of their skin bore the memories of combat.

Suddenly—

A piercing whistle tore through the silence of the night.

Several black figures sprang from the darkness, moving so fast they seemed to teleport as they pounced upon the outermost members of Shrek Academy's group. Silent black blade-light gathered in their hands, carrying a murderous intent that sent chills down the spine.

"Enemy attack!"

A Shrek Academy student noticed the danger at the very last moment, but it was already too late.

A black figure surfaced from the shadow beside him. Its pitch-black blade stabbed precisely into his back, shattering his Soul Power shield in one blow. He fell amid shock and confusion, his body twitching a few times before he completely lost consciousness.

He did not know what had attacked him.

He had not even seen his opponent's face.

The battle erupted in an instant.

More black figures surged out of the darkness. They no longer hid or disguised themselves, charging at the Shrek Academy students like a pack of evil ghosts emerging from the abyss. Their movements were swift and ruthless, without the slightest hesitation. Every